BACKGROUND
Putting puzzles together has long been a favorite pastime for both young and old alike. The problem with putting puzzles together is that often times a person does not have a spare table or workspace to store it until he or she comes back to continue working on the puzzle. This is especially true for people who live in small apartments with limited space.
SUMMARY
Examples described herein relate to a storage device used for working on and storing partially-complete puzzles. In these examples, the storage device can create one or more of the following: 1) provide a workspace for putting the puzzle together; and 2) provide a safe way to store the unfinished puzzle and loose puzzle pieces.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top view of an example storage device for a puzzle in the closed, unsecured position.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the storage device in the open position, showing a workspace of the storage device.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the storage device showing a partially-complete puzzle, loose puzzle pieces, and picture of the puzzle clipped to the cover portion of the storage device.
FIG. 4 is a side view of the storage device showing a partially-complete puzzle, loose puzzle pieces, and picture of the puzzle clipped to the cover portion of the storage device.
FIG. 5 is a front view of the closed storage device showing the elastic securement which secures the storage device from opening, and which holds the partially-complete and loose puzzle pieces from coming apart or falling out of the storage device.
FIG. 6 shows a view of the example storage device of FIG. 1 in the open position being used by a user.
FIG. 7 shows another view of the example storage device of FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 shows another view of the example storage device of FIG. 6.
FIG. 9 shows an example view of a puzzle box with the example storage device of FIG. 6 attached thereto.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present disclosure relates generally to a storage device used for working on and storing partially-complete puzzles.
In the example shown, the storage device is made of a foam board which measures anywhere from 21″×21″ for a 500-piece puzzle to 20″×25″ for a 750-piece puzzle, with a thickness of about 3/16 of an inch. The storage device may also be made of other materials (e.g., cardboard or plastic) and can be smaller or larger for smaller or larger puzzles.
FIG. 1 shows the storage device 100 in the closed, unsecured position. In such a position, a cover portion 110 is folded to engage a main portion 120 of the storage device 100 to secure a puzzle within the storage device 100, as described below.
FIG. 2 is an open view of the storage device 100 showing the cover portion 110 being opened relative to the main portion 120 along a perforated fold portion 130. FIG. 2 also shows an inner border portion 140 adhered to main portion 120. The inner border portion 140 functions to maintain the partially-complete puzzle and puzzle pieces from escaping the storage device 100 while working on it or while in the closed position. More specifically, the inner border portion 140 extends from the main portion 120 and functions to stop the puzzle and individual pieces of the puzzle from falling from the main portion 120. The inner border portion 140 further functions to engage the cover portion 110 when closed to form a cavity between the main portion, the inner border portion 140, and the cover portion to hold the puzzle during storage.
FIGS. 3-4 show an open view of the storage device 100 showing the main portion 120 being used as a workspace for putting the puzzle together. This workspace takes the place of a table and is portable at any time during the puzzle-making process. FIGS. 3-4 also show a puzzle picture 150 clipped to the cover portion 110. Displaying the puzzle picture 150 while working on the puzzle is convenient and takes up no extra workspace, contrary to displaying the puzzle's box top which requires more workspace and tends to tip over.
FIGS. 3-4 further show the main portion 120 displaying a partially-complete puzzle 160 and loose puzzle pieces 170, all kept neatly inside the inner border portion 140, while working on the puzzle.
FIG. 5 shows the storage device 100 in the closed, secured position, held together by an elastic securement 180. The elastic securement 180 and border portion 140 are what keep the partially-complete puzzle 160 and loose puzzle pieces 170 from falling out of the storage device 100 when moved or during storage. This border portion 140 can be on the main portion 120, the cover portion 110, and/or both portions 110, 120 (see FIGS. 6-9, wherein the border portion 140 is located on both portions 110, 120 and is positioned to close in an overlapping arrangement to maintain the puzzle pieces within the storage device 100). More specifically, the elastic securement 180 functions to hold the cover portion 110 closed relative to the main portion 120. The elastic securement 180 can be slipped off the cover portion 110 and the main portion 120 to gain access to the puzzle contained within the storage device 100. Other mechanisms can be used to secure the cover portion 110 to the main portion 120, such as a clasp or other locking device.
FIGS. 6-9 show additional views of the storage device 100 in use and coupled to a box of the puzzle. Many other configurations are possible.
Patent Application
20240033611
